Nokia launches Lumia Black update for its Windows Phones

Nokia launched its Lumia Black update today, and is slowly rolling out the latest changes to various models of its Windows Phone-based smartphones. Owners of the Lumia 1020 and 925 will be the first to get the update, though the company says that updates for its other models will be out in the coming weeks.

As a part of the update, Nokia has added some new apps to its catalog, including Nokia Beamer, which allows Lumia users with the update installed to mirror their phone’s screen onto any internet-connected TV or computer, for easy sharing of presentations and other content. Nokia has also added support for folder tiles on a phone’s home screen, so users can store a group of apps all in one tile, much like how Apple has implemented folders on iOS.

The update also brings RAW image support to the Lumia 1020 and 1520, making them the first smartphones to offer the ability for users to grab uncompressed image data from the camera sensors. Google has done the work to add RAW support to Android’s camera API, but hasn’t enabled it for users yet.

In addition to all of its bespoke changes to the OS, the update includes features that Microsoft launched with Windows Phone 8 Update 3, like rotation lock and the ability to set custom tones for phone calls and messages.

Users of compatible phones should get a notification asking them to update their phone when it’s ready.

Here’s a video that gives a run-down of the update’s capabilities:

Blair Hanley Frank is GeekWire's Bay Area Correspondent. He has also worked for Macworld, PCWorld and TechHive. Follow him on Twitter @belril and email him at blair@geekwire.com.